Experts in artificial intelligence and authentic innovation brought their knowledge together to present a robust program for the University of Florida College of Nursing’s 2022 Dorothy M. Smith Nursing Leadership Conference. Due to COVID-19, the conference was moved to a virtual format, which allowed easier access for participants to attend and receive up to five nursing continuing education contact hours.

More than 400 individuals from around the country and the world, including Brazil and India, participated in the virtual conference on Feb. 18, themed: “Artificial Intelligence | Authentic Innovation.” Some of the nation’s most renowned nursing experts led the day in conversation discussing artificial intelligence and authentic innovation in health care, as well as analyzed leadership in health care using both forms of innovation. Breakout sessions included a UF Health Escape Room; Clinician-Led InnoVAtion; AI and clinical education & OR prep use of AI; and an artificial and authentic patient room. Attendees were able to gain insight into how to leverage interprofessional partnerships in health to achieve shared creative goals, all while taking part in interactive dialogue with health care administration, nursing professionals and educators.

The conference’s opening keynote, delivered by Jane Carrington, PhD, RN, FAAN, FAMIA, the College of Nursing’s Dorothy M. Smith Endowed Chair, and Sara L. Horton-Deutsch, PhD, PMHCNS, RN, FAAN, ANEF, professor and director of the University of San Francisco Kaiser Permanente Partnership, provided attendees the opportunity to hear an engaging debate about the role authentic innovation and artificial intelligence will play in the future of health care and training the next generation of nurse leaders. Carrington highlighted artificial intelligence’s technical aspects, while Horton-Deutsch emphasized the interpersonal qualities associated with artificial innovation — both of which can be used in tandem to solve health care’s challenges.

To close out the conference, Malaz Boustani, MD, MPH, founding director of the Center for Health Innovation and Implementation Science, as well as the Richard M. Fairbank Professor of Aging Research at the Indiana University School of Medicine, shared his insights on agile science, an approach combining economics, complexity science and network science to understand human behavior. The integrative nature of agile “innovation” makes it easy to pair with AI and authentic innovation in health care settings.

The Dorothy M. Smith Nursing Leadership Conference has taken place every other year since 2004 and tackles the most pressing and informative topics affecting health care and nursing. This one-day, innovative leadership conference is presented by the UF College of Nursing and the Thomas M. and Irene B. Kirbo Charitable Trust, and serves as one of the best values for nursing educators, clinicians, researchers and health care professionals and entrepreneurs. The 2022 DMS conference was also sponsored by UF Health, UF Health Jacksonville and Sigma Theta Tau Alpha Theta Chapter. The next symposium will be held in early 2024.

Versie Johnson-Mallard, PhD, ARNP, FAAN, (MSN 1996) was appointed dean of the Kent State University College of Nursing last year. Previously, she served as the UF College of Nursing associate dean for student affairs and co-chair of the college’s Social Justice Steering Committee. She is a board-certified women’s health nurse practitioner and fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, as well as the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Peggy Rodebush, RN, MSN (MSN 1985) has been a registered nurse for 35 years. In 2005, she became a Healthcare Partner at Ernst & Young and worked with nurses and doctors to provide consulting services to hospitals across the United States.  She was hired by Ross Perot to build a clinical division for Perot Consulting and later led health care clinical consulting practices for IBM and Siemens, focusing on using technology to improve clinical outcomes and care in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East.

Jeanne Hahne, MSN, BSN, (MSN 1980) is the owner and CEO of FaceView Mask LLC. While in the MSN program at UF and working in a burn unit, Hahne first came up with the idea for the FaceView Mask™, a clear mask enabling clinicians to form a better bond with patients. Hahne has since received funding from the National Institutes of Health to patent and trademark the clear surgical mask to improve patient communication and satisfaction.

Denise M. Schentrup, DNP, ARNP, FAANP, (BSN 1993, MSN 1996) is the associate dean for clinical affairs at the College of Nursing and the clinic director of UF Health Archer Family Health Care, the college’s rural, nurse-led practice. Schentrup maintains a clinical practice as the lead family nurse practitioner, providing quality, affordable care to individuals and families of Archer and surrounding rural areas.

Susan McLean, MSN, RN, (BSN 1967, MSN 1977) has served on the Board of Directors of Orlando Health/South Lake Hospital for over 25 years and as chairman since 2007. She has also dedicated her life to nursing education by helping to establish the nursing programs at the University of Central Florida and Lake Sumter Community College. McLean has served on the boards of the Florida Nurses Association Foundation, the Community Foundation of South Lake and the Live Well Foundation of South Lake County — shepherding more than $69 million in funding for local not-for-profits in her community.